The safety of COVID-19 vaccination in immunocompromised children and young adults with immune-mediated inflammatory disease.

AIM: To assess safety of COVID-19 vaccination in paediatric patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID).

METHODS

Subjects of 5-21 years of age with IMID who received at least one COVID-19 vaccine completed electronic surveys after each vaccine to assess side effects within 1 week of vaccination, current medications and COVID-19 testing after vaccination. Charts were reviewed for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction and IgG response to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein results and for disease flare during the study period.

RESULTS

Among 190 enrolled subjects, 71% were female, with median age 17 (range 6-21) years. The most common diagnosis was juvenile idiopathic arthritis/rheumatoid arthritis (55%). 78% of subjects were taking immunosuppressive medication. At least one side effect was reported in 65% of subjects after any dose of the vaccine; with side effects in 38%, 53% and 55% of subjects after the first, second and third vaccine doses, respectively. The most common side effects were injection site pain (59%), fatigue (54%) and headache (39%). No anaphylaxis or myocarditis was reported. Three subjects (2%) experienced disease flare.

CONCLUSION

In our cohort of paediatric patients with IMID, observed side effects were found to be mild and disease flare rates were found to be low following COVID-19 vaccination.